I don't think there are actual rules about veils -- it seems to be personal preference, tradition and culture. For instance, the on/off face issue. I was looking at videos of the weddings of the Infantas of Spain. Elena wore her veil over her face, and Christina wore it pushed back. In the UK the royal brides tend to wear the veil off the face so that the bride can be seen, but in Diana's case (and Sarah's) she wore it over the face until they went to sign the register and she came back with it re-arranged.

The origin of the material of the lace. They seem to be blessed with antique lace belonging to grannies and great-grannies, so it would be a nod to tradition and a remembrance of a grandmother who's probably gone now.

Length? Probably dependent on the lace available to the brides and their dress designers.

Tiaras probably not required -- but if you have one or the groom's family has one, you probably won't get many opportunities aside from the wedding to wear one, so why not? Princess Caroline of Monaco didn't wear one at her first wedding (nor at the others, for that matter). Sarah Ferguson started out with a garland of flowers and returned with the tiara after her veil had been moved off the face.

I really loved the veil of Sarah Ferguson. I loved the bow scalloped egdges and the flowers were so pretty they looked edible! I think the idea of having flowers as a commoner to hold her veil then a sparkling diamond tiara as she emerged as a Duchess was wonderful!

I really loved the veil of Sarah Ferguson. I loved the bow scalloped egdges and the flowers were so pretty they looked edible! I think the idea of having flowers as a commoner to hold her veil then a sparkling diamond tiara as she emerged as a Duchess was wonderful!

Actually, I think the flowers were for change in marital status, as according to tradition, only married women wore tiaras. But I also did enjoy the idea very clever, a subtle throwback to an earlier era.

I really loved the veil of Sarah Ferguson. I loved the bow scalloped egdges and the flowers were so pretty they looked edible! I think the idea of having flowers as a commoner to hold her veil then a sparkling diamond tiara as she emerged as a Duchess was wonderful!

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmpressRouge

Actually, I think the flowers were for change in marital status, as according to tradition, only married women wore tiaras. But I also did enjoy the idea very clever, a subtle throwback to an earlier era.

Actually, I think the flowers were for change in marital status, as according to tradition, only married women wore tiaras. But I also did enjoy the idea very clever, a subtle throwback to an earlier era.

Well, we know the Queen and Diana wore their tiaras to the wedding, but Sarah wore flowers to the wedding and then changed to a tiara mid-way.

I would expect that most brides wear their tiaras throughout because they would have to take off the veil and possibly disarrange their hair when changing. But that's a guess on my part!

Actually, I liked Sarah's flowers and would have been quite happy had she worn them throughout.

I guess it symbolised her change in status, I think it is sweet, at what point were the flowers replaced for a tiara, can not remember it at all.
I think Mary and Letizia wore tiara's straight through the service.

Quote:

Originally Posted by iowabelle

Well, we know the Queen and Diana wore their tiaras to the wedding, but Sarah wore flowers to the wedding and then changed to a tiara mid-way.

I would expect that most brides wear their tiaras throughout because they would have to take off the veil and possibly disarrange their hair when changing. But that's a guess on my part!

Actually, I liked Sarah's flowers and would have been quite happy had she worn them throughout.